When it comes to cancer, the majority of people are not familiar with the disease’s early warning signs. In fact, in a recent new study that was conducted by Ipsos MORI, it was discovered that at least 26% of the American population is not even aware of one single sign of lung cancer. Making this number even more frightening is the evidence that proves this form of the disease is the top cancer killer among both men and women. Out of all the people that were identified in this recent survey, less than half of the participants listed shortness of breath as an early symptom of lung cancer while a low 39% said coughing was a warning sign. Being conducted for the Global Lung Cancer Coalition, this survey was performed in 21 different countries and produced additional alarming results. Unbelievably, this particular horrific disease kills close to 160,000 American’s every year.

Speaking on the matter, the chairman of the Global Lung Cancer Coalition, Matthew Peters, MD, says, “Patients are often diagnosed at a very late stage when treatment is no longer an option. If we can get patients diagnosed earlier, we can treat them and save lives. That is why being aware of the symptoms is so important”. Because of this, it’s extremely important for you to know the early warnings signs of cancer.

Rapid Weight Loss

Even though the majority of people would be ecstatic about losing weight without having to try, losing 10 or more pounds without an explanation is one of the most prevalent signs of cancer. Not only is quickly losing weight a common warning sign, rapid appetite loss is also a frequent indicator that the disease has started to set in. By experiencing these specific signs, it generally means that cancer is starting to develop in the stomach, lungs, throat or pancreas.

Constant Fever

If a low-grade fever continues to occur, the chances are, you are experiencing one of the first warning signs of cancer. A persistent fever will typically be a symptom of Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Fatigue

When it comes to cancer, regular day-to-day fatigue is not what you need to be worried about. Rather, it’s the continually worsening fatigue that should concern you. Dr. Dale Sheppard, a cancer expert at the Cleveland Clinic’s department of Solid Tumor Oncology, states that, “If you suddenly can’t get through the day without taking a 3-4 hour nap, when you never needed one before, can be a suggestive of cancer”. This warning sign is typically associated with certain cancers that cause blood loss like stomach cancer and colon cancer. Extreme fatigue is also a strong sign of leukemia.

Without question, cancer is a very scary disease that kills millions of people worldwide every year. In order to be as preventative as possible when it comes to the disease, it’s extremely important to be fully aware of all the potential warning signs. By doing so, it could actually save your life.

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